Aeroplane.



w. F. SMITH.

AEROPLANE. A APPLICATION FILED we. 22, 1910.

4 Patented May 23, 1911."

wi lme web W. F. SMITH.

'AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented ma 23, 1911.

}.iiNitrED-sT T1':s PATENT onnionf WILLIAM 1*. SMITH, or noonnoosn, ILLINOIS.

AEROPLANE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known-that I, WILLIAM F. SMITH,

-- a citizen of the United States, residing at aeroplanes.

Roodhouse, in the county of Greeneand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplaiies;

and I do declare thefol-lowing to be a full,

.of construction, I combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawingszFigure 1 is a side view partly in section of an aeroplane constructed in. accordance with-the.invention; Fig. 2 is a front end view of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on a line with the pivotal connection of the car with the main plane; Fig. 1 is a plan view of the car frame and truck.

In the embodiment of the invention I provide a main sustaining plane 1, consisting of a suitable fabric-stretched over a frame 2 which is preferably curved longitudinally and which. is also slightly curved trans versely. The frame 2 plane is braced on its under side adjacent to its opposite edges with'longitudinally extending truss brace frames 3 each of which comprisesa downwardly curved bar 4 connecttruss braces and connecting the same with serves as a fin for keeping theaeroplaneyin ed at its opposite ends to the frame 2 adj acent i o the opposite endsthe'reo'f. The bar 3 .is further connected to the frame 2-by a series of vertical bracing ribs 5- between which are arranged a series of diagonal brace rods or wires 6. By thus arranging the the frame 2 the sustaining. plane will be securely braced and supported.

Secured to the under side-of the .plane frame 2 and along the center of thesame is a downwardly projecting longitudinally extending stationary guiding plane? which Specification of Letters'l 'atent. Application flled August 22, 1910. Serial No.

art to which it appertains'to make and use of ,the sustaining v a straight course or, preventing the same,

from drifting sidewlse.

The stationary guidingplane 7 extends from .the forward the end of said stationary guiding plane is.

Patented May23, 1911.-

end of the main plane to a point ,a short distance beyond the center thereof and to..

pivotally connected a movable guiding plane I or'rudder 8 which-is adapted to be operated;

for steering the machine in thedesired direction. The stationary and movable members of the rudder are constructed in the. form of suitably-braced frames over which is stretched'a suitable fabric.

Secured to the truss frames 3 and them main plane frame 2 midway between the I ends of the latter are upper car supporting bars 9, the lower ends of which are-connect- "ed to the truss braces 4 and are braced by diagonally arranged brace rods 10. T0 the r7 5 bars 9 are pivotally connected the. upper ends. of lower car supporting bars 11 to which'are fastened a car 12 which may be vof any suitable construction and which ishere shown as being provided with a three A wheeled truck 13 whereby the .machine is.

adapted torun along the ground before makf ing an ascent. The frame-of :the car is braced by inclined brace bars 14 and 14'. arf ranged thereon as shown.

In the upper portion of the car frame is revolub1y mounted a propeller shaft- .15 hav ing on its forward end .a propeller 16, and on its (rear end a drive pulley 17. The

pulley 17 is operatively connected by a belt 1 Q 18 to a motor 19 whereby the machine is:

propelled. In order to direct the course of the machine upwardly or downwardly as when ascending or ,descending I provide means whereby the plane. 1 may be tilted to throw the forward end thereof upwardly or downwardly. The tilting mechanism for .the

plane 1 co prises a drum 21 which is-fixedf ings in the truck frame of the7 car. around the drum 21 and :connected at its' opposite end to't-he truss frames 3 of the pIane l'is a tilting cable 23 whereby when the shaft 22 and drum 21- are rocked the frame willbe rocked in one direction or the other, and-the frame thus tilted in the v on a rock s aft 22. mounted in suitable bear- 1 Passed;

desired direction. ;The shaft 22 and. drum 21 areprovided with an operating lever 24' f which is rigidly connected thereto at its lower vi end and'is provided with apawl 25 adapted to. be engaged with the teeth of a segmental rack 26 whereby the lever is fastened and the shaft 22 and drum 21 locked in position for holding the plane 1 at the desired angle.

The rudder 8 is operated to steer the machine in the desired course by an operating cable 27 which is passed around the segmental drum 28 rigidly mounted on a rock shaft 29 journaled in the track frame of the car as shown. The ends of the cable 27 pass'through suitable guide pulleys 30 arranged at the necessary points on the car frame and are connected to the opposite sides of the rudder 8 whereby when the rock shaft 29 and drum 28 are rocked one way the rudder will be swung around and when said shaft and drum are rocked the other way, the rudder will be swung in the opposite direction thereby steering the machine in the desired course.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the side of said sustaining plane extending fromthe front end thereof to a point short of the rear end ofthe same, a vertically disposed rudder hinged at its front end to the rear end of said rigid guiding plane, bracing frames secured to and depending from the sustaining plane near the sides thereof, hanger bars secured to saidv bracing frames, 'a car, side bars rising from the car and pivoted at their upper ends to said hanger bars, a propeller mounted on the car, a plane-adjusting mechanism'mounted on the car and adapted to tilt the sustaining plane, and a rudder operating mechanism also mounted on the car and adapted to swing the rudder laterally with respect to the sustaining plane.

2. In an aeroplane, a sustaining plane, truss brace frames connected with the frame of said sustaining plane whereby the latter is rigidly braced, a vertical longitudinally disposed guiding plane or fin secured to the center of said sustaining plane and projecting a suitable distance below the same, a movable steering plane hingedly connected to the rear end of said guiding plane, a car frame pivotally connected to the truss "brace frames of said sustaining plane, a wheeled truck secured to said car frame, a propeller operatively mounted in the upper portion of the latter, a cable operating drum mounted in said car frame, a tilting cable operatively engaged with said. drum and connected at its opposite ends to the opposite ends of the sustaining plane frame whereby said plane may be tilted upwardly or down wardly to direct the course of the machine when ascending or descending, an operating lever connected to said drum and a pawl and ratchet locking mechanism for said lever whereby said drum is locked to hold the plane at the desired angle, a steering drum operatively mounted in said car frame, steering cables engaged with said drum and operatively connected with said movable steering plane whereby the latter may be swung in one direction or the other for steering the machine, an operating lever connected with said drum and a pawl and ratchet locking mechanism whereby the drum is locked and holds the rudder in the de ired position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my handin presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM F. SMITH.

Witnesses:

JOHN J ONES, J. V. MELLEN. 

